ENFORCE THE LAWS

To the Editor

A public service announcement in a recent issue of your paper has
raised some questions that I believe should be answered, that is the
establishment of a drug free zone in 100Mile House.

Now I do not mean in any way to detract from the need for or the
importance of this initiative.

Not only will it help protect our children from the scourge of the
drug trade,it will also help all citizens now and in the future.

And since I reside within the proposed boundaries I am tempted to use
a saying common in the R.C.A. F. in World War Two. That is "Up yours,
George. I'm in the dinghy." In other words I'm safe so I'm not
concerned about you.

But more seriously, the statement that those caught breaking the law
within those boundaries will receive double the penalties usually
dispensed. Does this mean that the guilty will receive two slaps on one
wrist or will it be one slap on each wrist? A question requiring the
wisdom of Solomon to answer and a problem the solution of which would
justify a large judicial salary.

The second question is this, if the boundaries proposed delineate a
drug free zone are the areas beyond those boundaries not also supposed
to be drug free?

Indeed is not all of Canada, by law, supposed to be free of the
illicit drug trade?

Is the lack of resources provided to our police departments to enable
them to really enforce those laws just a ruse by federal and
provincial governments? Is this just meant to provide a lucrative
living for those involved in dealing with law breakers and through the
medium of light sentences and the farce of rehabilitaton, create a
revolving door of criminality?

This would also create a reason for being for many of those
involved.

Vern Norbury

100 Mile House